Men’s Basketball Hosts St. John’s – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/12/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 12, 2000
Game Notes in .PDF format
Opponent: St. John’s
Site: Value City Arena (19,100)
Game Time: 7 p.m. (EST)
TV: ESPN2
Local TV: None
TV Talent: Dave Barnett (P-by-P)
Quinn Buckner (Color)
Radio: OSU Radio Network (63 stations)
Local Radio: WBNS FM-97.1 AM-1460
Radio Talent: Paul Keels (P-by-P)
Ron Stokes (Color)
Ohio State Buckeyes
Probable Starters (5-2)
G 3-Sean Connolly, 6-4, So.
G 21-Boban Savovic, 6-5, Jr.
G 13-Brian Brown, 6-4, Jr.
C 32-Ken Johnson, 6-11, Sr.
F 33-Zach Williams, 6-7, Fr.
St. John’s Red Storm
Probable Starters (4-3)
G 10-Omar Cook, 6-1, Fr.
G 23-Willie Shaw, 6-6, Fr.
C 25-Kyle Cuffe, 6-8, Fr.
F 22-Anthony Glover, 6-6, Jr.
F 41-Reggie Jessie, 6-7, Sr.
Ohio State to host NCAA Tournament 1st, 2nd rounds in 2004
The Ohio State Department of Athletics, along with Nationwide Arena and the Greater Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau, has been selected to host the 2004 National Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s Basketball First and Second Rounds, the NCAA announced Dec. 7. Ohio State will serve as the host institution for the 2004 Midwest Region early round contests. The games will be played at Nationwide Arena March 19 and 21, 2004.
O’Brien close to win No. 300
Jim O’Brien is closing on career win No. 300 as a collegiate head coach. O’Brien is 298-257 (.537) in 19 seasons as a head coach. He has a record of 63-40 (.612), including a record of 55-18 (.753) over the last three seasons with the Buckeyes. O’Brien spent 11 seasons at his alma mater, Boston College. His teams compiled a record of 168-166 record with six postseason appearances, including three trips to the NCAA Tournament in his last four years. O’Brien started his career at St. Bonaventure, where in four seasons, his teams posted a record of 67-51 (.568).
Johnson No. 1 in Big Ten
Ohio State senior Ken Johnson (Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford) claimed the No. 1 spot in the Big Ten with an average of 4.0 blocks a game (28) after a nine-rejection performance vs. UMass (12/10/00). Buckeye junior Boban Savovic (East Side N.J./Montenegro, Yugoslavia) is third in the assist/turnover ratio with 25 assists and just nine turnovers on the season for a +2.78 ratio. Junior Brian Brown (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin) second in steals (2.29), fourth in free throw shooting (21-24, .875) and 10th in assists (4.14 apg.).
Robinson out 2-4 weeks
Doylan Robinson (Akron, Ohio/Buchtel), a junior guard, will be out 2-4 weeks recovering from injuries sustained as a passenger in a traffic accident Sunday, Dec. 3. Robinson suffered several lacerations to his face and right hand. He is expected to recover fully. Robinson has played in five games to date for the Buckeyes. He is averaging 2.0 points and 1.8 rebounds in 8.4 minutes a game.
Buckeyes lead the Big Ten in defense
Ohio State rates No. 1 among Big Ten teams in field goal percentage defense (.345) and is No. 2 in scoring defense allowing just 56.4 points a game. Foes are hitting only .311 percent of their 3-point attempts, which has OSU again No. 4 in 3-point field goal percentage defense. The Ohio State offense is No. 2 in scoring margin, with a 16.7 scoring advantage over opponents. The Buckeyes are No. 1 in turnover margin (+4.00) and No. 4 in assist/turnover ratio (+1.16).
Noting the Buckeyes:
Sophomore guard Sean Connolly has started his last three games at OSU…he started all 30 contests as a freshman at Providence in 1998-99…he is the only Buckeye to connect on at least one 3-pointer in every game this season.
Sophomore Brent Darby has played 20 or more minutes in 6-of-7 games this season…he averaged 10 minutes a game as a freshman…he has made a 3-pointer in all but one game (UMass) this season.
Junior guard Brian Brown has scored in double figures in 6-of-7 games this season…he scored eight points vs. UMass to break a streak of six in a row in double digits…Brown has at least one steal in all seven games this year…he has 11 thefts in his last four games.
Freshman center Velimir Radinovic is connecting on 87 percent of his free throws, which includes a 9-of-11 outing vs. Eastern Kentucky (12/2/00)…for the season, he is shooting 50 percent from the field (7-14) in just over seven minutes a contest.
Junior guard Boban Savovic has started all seven games this season and has averaged nearly 30 minutes a game of playing time…he averaged just over 11 minutes a game as a freshman and sophomore.
Senior center Ken Johnson leads the team in field goal percentage at .550 (33-60)…he is averaging double digits in scoring (11.9 ppg.) for the first time in his career…Johnson also is connecting on 85 percent of his free throws (17-20)…he is a career 60 percent shooter from the foul line (144-239).
Freshman Zach Williams is shooting 50 percent from the field (26-52) with a scoring average of 9.0 ppg…he scored the last OSU field goal with the game on the line in the 54-51 win over UMass with 1:08 remaining.
Junior Will Dudley is shooting 70 percent from the free throw line this season…he is a 47 percent shooter for his career (27-57) from the foul line.
Junior Tim Martin, who walked on to the OSU team last year, has played double digit minutes in 5-of-7 games this season, including 18 in the win over UMass…he has made 8-of-12 shots from the field (.667).
Buckeyes survive Minutemen rally
Ken Johnson scored 16 points and blocked nine shots but Ohio State needed Brent Darby’s two clinching free throws with less than a second left to beat Massachusetts 54-51. Ohio State won its third in a row while Massachusetts lost its fifth consecutive game. The Buckeyes led by as many as 13 points in the first half and were on top by eight with just over 3 minutes remaining. But 3-point field goals by Winston Smith and Monty Mack – who led the Minutemen with 22 points – cut the lead to 50-47 with 1:30 remaining. Zach Williams hit a drive in traffic to put Ohio State ahead by five before Kitwana Rhymer made a foul shot with 9.1 seconds remaining to make it 52-48. After Rhymer missed the second shot, Ohio State’s Boban Savovic tipped the ball out to Shannon Crooks, who missed a 3-pointer. On the play, Massachusetts’ Micah Brand hung on the rim and was assessed an indirect technical, resulting in one foul shot for the Buckeyes before UMass was given the ball out of bounds. Brian Brown missed the technical shot with 4.2 seconds. UMass then inbounded under its own basket and Crooks hit a 3-pointer from the right corner to cut it to 52-51 with 1.9 seconds remaining. Darby was fouled on the inbounds play and hit both shots. UMass stayed in the game despite hitting just 15-of-59 shots from the field (25 percent). Johnson had more blocks than the Minutemen had field goals until there was less than 10 minutes remaining. By halftime, with Ohio State on top 26-13, Johnson had seven blocked shots and Massachusetts was 5-for-30 from the field (16.7 percent).
Noting the win over UMass
Ohio State head coach Jim O’Brien now has 298 career wins in 19seasons as a head coach. He is 63-40 at Ohio State in four seasons.This was the first meeting between Massachusetts and Ohio State.Ohio State is 17-11 vs. teams representing the Atlantic 10Conference. The Buckeye defense held the Minutemen scoreless untilthe 14:42 mark of the first half after the Buckeyes were up 8-0.Ohio State led at the half 26-13 after holding UMass to 5-of-30shooting (.167) after the first 20 minutes. Ohio State is 5-0 thisseason when leading at the half. Ken Johnson failed to record ablock vs. Denver (12/7/00) but had seven in the first half and ninefor the game vs. Massachusetts. Johnson has blocked eight or moreshots in a game seven times in his Ohio State career. The last wasan eight-block effort vs. Minnesota (3/4/00). Johnson has blockednine or more in a contest three times. A Buckeye player has blockednine or more shots just five times in history. Brad Sellers andHerb Williams each rejected nine shots once in their careers atOhio State. Johnson’s nine blocks are the most ever by a UMassopposing player breaking the record of eight held by formerUniversity of Texas center Chris Mihm. Ken Johnson tied a seasonhigh with 16 points vs. the Minutemen. The 13 points in the firsthalf are the fewest scored by a Bruiser Flint-coached team atUMass. The Minutemen managed 16 in a half vs. Texas last season.Ohio State has held four opponents this season to less than 20points in the first half, including its last three foes. Yalescored 18 first-half points in the season opener. Eastern Kentucky(16), Denver (16) and U Mass (13) all failed to reach 20 points inthe first half. Ohio State extended its streak of consecutive gameswith at least one 3-point field goal made when Sean Connollyconnected from long range early in the second half. Ohio State hasmade at least one 3-pointer in 257-consecutive games.
Jarvis in third year at St. John’s
Red Storm head coach Mike Jarvis is in his third year as the head coach of St. John’s University. He has compiled a record of 57-20 in his tenure at St. John’s. Overall, after stops at Boston University, George Washington and St. John’s, Jarvis has an overall record of 310-161.
No. 2 vs. Big East
The game with the Red Storm will be the second meeting between Ohio State and a member of the Big East Conference this season. The Buckeyes fell 77-66 to Syracuse in the second round of the Great Alaska Shootout Nov. 24 in Anchorage. Overall, Ohio State has a record of 50-32 vs. Big East members, including a 6-2 mark against St. John’s.
Third in a row
The Buckeyes and Red Storm will be meeting for the third-consecutive year. Ohio State has won each of the last two meetings, a 77-74 win in the NCAA South Regional Finals held in Knoxville, Tenn., in 1999 and a dramatic come-from-behind 65-64 victory last year at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Last time vs. the Red Storm
Scoonie Penn was the hero in a frantic finish that give Ohio State a 65-64 win over St. John’s at Madison Square Garden. Penn scored the final five points of a game-closing 11-0 run and blocked Erick Barkley’s potential winning shot at the buzzer as the 13th-ranked Buckeyes rallied for a victory in a rematch of the 1999 NCAA Tournament South Region final. Consecutive 3-pointers by Bootsy Thornton provided the 19th-ranked Red Storm with a 64-54 lead with 2:49 to play before Ohio State fought back. After Penn made two free throws with 23 seconds remaining to put OSU on top, St. John’s worked the ball to Anthony Glover, whose driving attempt was blocked by Ken Johnson. Johnson finished with a career-high and OSU single-game record 11 blocks. The Red Storm grabbed the rebound, however, and the ball found Barkley in the left corner. But his shot was blocked by Penn as time expired.
Noting St. John’s
With only three players returning from the 25-8 squad of1999-00, St. John’s will start this season with nine new faces.Highlighting this group of newcomers is McDonald’s All-AmericanOmar Cook. Ohio State freshman forward Zach Williams and St. John’sfreshman Omar Cook helped lead Christ the King to a No. 3 nationalranking during their junior season. Williams and Cook are two offour senior players in 1999-00 to go on to Division I schools onbasketball scholarships. The others are Juma Allen (Wagner) andMike Radxiejewski (Hofstra). Ohio State senior center Ken Johnsonplayed for St. John’s head coach Mike Jarvis over the summer.Jarvis coached the U.S. Select team that practiced against the U.S.Olympic men’s basketball team in Maui, Hawaii. Johnson was a memberof the 12-member U.S. Select team.
OSU 2nd Big Ten foe for Red Storm
Anthony Glover scored a season-high 27 points and ignited a second-half surge that enabled the Red Storm to pull away to a 97-83 victory over Michigan at the BB&T Classic in Washington, D.C., Dec. 3. Omar Cook scored 20 points and Willie Shaw and Reggie Jessie had 19 apiece for the Red Storm (4-2), who never trailed after halftime in the consolation contest. St. John’s lost the opener to George Washington. Michigan, which started two freshmen and two sophomores, lost its third straight. LaVell Blanchard and Bernard Robinson both scored 18 for the Wolverines, who led by 11 in the first half but wilted under the weight of 18 turnovers and 28 fouls.
Glover leads Red Storm
St. John’s junior forward Anthony Glover leads the Red Storm in scoring with 18.9 points a contest. He also is the team’s leading rebounder with an average of 6.7 rebounds a game. Freshman guard Omar Cook is second in scoring (16.0) but leads in assists 8.9 apg.) and steals (2.7 spg.). Another freshman, forward Willie Shaw, also is scoring in double figures. He averages 14.7 points and is the team’s best 3-point shooter (17-43, .420).
Johnson No. 1 on OSU career swat chart
Ken Johnson has 28 blocks on the season for a career total of 347, which places him first all-time at Ohio State in career rejections. Johnson passed Herb Williams (1978-81) at the Great Alaska Shootout. Johnson averaged 1.9 bpg. (58/30 gms.) as a freshman, 2.8 bpg. (100/36 gms.) as a sophomore and 5.37 bpg. (161/30 gms.) in 1999-00. He has an average of 4.0 blocks a game this season.
Johnson to start 100th career game
Ken Johnson has started 99 career games as a Buckeye since the 1997-98 season. He will become one of only eight Buckeye to reach 100 or more career starts. Currently No. 8 all-time, Johnson will next overtake Troy Taylor (1982-85) at No. 7 with 101 starts.
Leading the Buckeyes
Junior Brian Brown leads the Buckeyes offensively with a scoring average of 15.1 points per game. He also has been deadly accurate from the foul line, hitting 21-of-24 attempts for a shooting percentage of 88 percent. He is second behind Boban Savovic (9-21, .429) from 3-point range (11-26, .423) and has played a team best 32.3 minutes per game. Ken Johnson is the team’s leading rebounder with 6.0 a game. He is the most accurate Buckeye from the field as well hitting 55 percent of his shots (33-60). Brown leads in assists with 29.
Buckeyes scoring well from foul line
Ohio State has connected on 74 percent of its foul shots (108-146). Starters Brian Brown, Ken Johnson, Boban Savovic and Zach Williams are a combined 58-72 (.806).
OSU opponents fare well in polls
Seven 2000-01 Buckeye opponents are rated among the Top 25 in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls. Another five foes are receiving votes for Top 25 consideration. Michigan State (2/2), Illinois (5/5), Kansas (10/8), Syracuse (12/12), Wisconsin (16/17), Alabama (18/22) and Iowa (22/25) are rated in the Top 25 in both polls. Penn State, Indiana, St. John’s and Minnesota all are receiving votes in at least one of the polls. Ohio State received 12 votes for Top 25 consideration in the latest AP poll (12/11/00).
Johnson reaches 300 career blocks, 4th on Big Ten list
Buckeye senior Ken Johnson has 347 blocks in his career after swatting nine against UMass. Johnson is fourth in Big Ten history in career blocks. Joe Barry Carroll of Purdue (1977-80) is the next target for Johnson at No. 3 with 349 career blocks.
Big Ten Career Blocked Shots leaders 1. Calvin Booth, PSU 1995-99 428 2. Acie Earl, IOWA 1989-93 365 3. Joe Barry Carroll, PUR 1977-80 349 4. Ken Johnson, OSU 1998- 347 5. Herb Williams, OSU 1977-81 328
Big Ten Season Blocked Shot leaders 1. Ken Johnson, OSU 1999-00 161 2. Calvin Booth, PSU 1997-98 140 3. Jim Pitts, NU 1965-66 123 4. Acie Earl, Iowa 1991-92 121 5. Acie Earl, Iowa 1990-91 106 6. Joe Barry Carroll, PUR 1977-78 105 7. Calvin Booth, PSU 1995-96 101 8. Ken Johnson, OSU 1998-99 100 9. Dean Garrett, IND 1987-88 99 10.Roy Tarpley, MICH 1985-86 97 Brad Sellers, OSU 1985-86 97
Johnson led nation in blocks, average fifth in NCAA
Ohio State center Ken Johnson led the Big Ten and the nation in blocks in 1999-00. Johnson sent back 5.37 shots per game with 161 blocks on the year. Johnson has the fifth highest block per game average in NCAA history. His total of 161 is the seventh most in a single season in NCAA history.
NCAA Single Season Blocks Avg. 1. #Adonal Foyle, Colgate 1997 6.43 2. #Keith Closs, C. Conn. St. 1996 6.36 3. #David Robinson, Navy 1986 5.91 4. Adonal Foyle, Colgate 1996 5.69 5. #Ken Johnson, OSU 2000 5.37 # Led nation in blocks.
Big Ten coaches, media select Johnson preseason First Team All-Big Ten
The Big Ten men’s basketball coaches and league media chose Ken Johnson (Sr., Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford) as a preseason First Team All-Big Ten selection. The announcement was made Oct. 30 at the annual Big Ten Men’s Basketball media day. Johnson joins Cory Bradford (Illinois), Charlie Bell (Michigan State), Kirk Haston (Indiana) and LaVell Blanchard (Michigan) on the squad selected by the coaches. The media selected the same squad with the exception of Haston. Joe Crispin of Penn State filled that spot. Johnson, who averaged nearly eight points, over six rebounds and 5.4 blocks a game last year as a junior, is the only senior on Ohio State’s squad this season.
A change in lineup
Ohio State used its second starting lineup of the season with sophomore Sean Connolly starting in place of sophomore Brent Darby against Eastern Kentucky. Darby had a slight knee sprain but did play vs. the Colonels. According to STATS Inc., Ohio State was among just six schools to use just one or two different starting lineups in 1999-00. Hawaii used the same starters all season. Ohio State, Southern Illinois, St. John’s, Vermont and Wofford used just two lineups in 1999-00.
2-year home record rates high at OSU
Ohio State has compiled a 33-3 (.917) record over three seasons in Value City Arena. The Buckeyes were 14-1 in the inaugural season in VCA (1998-99) and notched a 15-2 record at home in 1999-00. In back-to-back seasons in which the Buckeyes have won at least 25 combined home games, the OSU record from 1999-00 of 29-3 stands fourth all-time for home record in consecutive seasons. The 1962-63 teams posted a 25-0 record during a span of 50 home games in which the Buckeyes were undefeated from 1960-64.
Ohio State home record in back-to-back seasons Seasons 2-yr. home Rec. Win Pct. 1962-63 25-0 1.000 1991-92 30-1 .968 1990-91 27-2 .931 1999-00 29-3 .906 1985-86 26-5 .839 1982-83 25-5 .833 1986-87 26-7 .788 1985-86 26-5 .781
OSU 3-pt FG streak extended to 257
Ohio State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal attempt over the last 257 games. Sean Connolly extended the streak early in the second half against UMass (12/10/00). The last time an OSU team missed all attempts from 3-point range was Feb. 2, 1992 when the Buckeyes went 0 for 5 in a 68-58 OSU win over Michigan. Buckeye opponents have a streak of 249-consecutive games with at least one 3-pointer made. Michigan went 0-10 from long range March 3, 1992 in an OSU 75-66 victory, marking the last time an opponent was held without a 3-pointer.
OSU vs. the Big Ten
The Buckeyes open the Big Ten season Jan. 3, 2001 at home against Northwestern. The Buckeyes have more victories over the Wildcats (97) than any other league school. Ohio State has 78 wins each over Michigan and Wisconsin. Illinois has the most wins over the Buckeyes with 94. This will be the 89th season of Big Ten play for Ohio State in men’s basketball.
Big Ten Series Records
Illinois 56-94
Indiana 66-92
Iowa 59-67
Michigan 78-67
Michigan State 44-51
Minnesota 69-50
Northwestern 97-44
Penn State 11-11
Purdue 67-77
Wisconsin 78-53
Totals 625-60
Johnson on watch list for Naismith Award
Ken Johnson, a senior on the Ohio State men’s basketball team, is among 30 preseason candidates for the 2000-01 Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year Award. The Naismith Awards program, now in its 33rd year, honors the outstanding college basketball players in the United States. The program was founded by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, an organization dedicated to recognizing the achievements of student-athletes in basketball. Charlie Bell (Michigan State), Cory Bradford (Illinois) and Mike Kelley (Wisconsin) also represent the Big Ten on the list.
Wooden Award a possibility for Johnson
Johnson is a candidate for the John R. Wooden Award, which began its Silver Anniversary celebration with the announcement of the Top 50 Preseason Candidates for the 2000-01 All-American Team in late August. Founded in 1976, The John R. Wooden Award is the nation’s pre-eminent trophy given annually to the most outstanding collegiate basketball player in the United States.
Johnson helps Olympic team prepare for Gold in Sydney
Ken Johnson was selected as one of 12 collegiate players who gathered to practice against the 2000 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball team last summer in Maui, Hawaii. Johnson was the only true center on the 2000 USA Basketball Men’s Select team and its tallest player at 6-feet 11-inches. The Select team scrimmaged the Olympic team each day during the week-long camp. The camp ended with a nationally-televised (NBC) contest Sept. 2 at the University of Hawaii Stan Sheriff Center.
Three student-athletes added for 2001-02 season
Jim O’Brien signed one of the best recruiting classes of his coaching tenure Nov. 8, the first day of the fall men’s basketball signing period.
Matt Sylvester (Loveland, Ohio/Moeller), Terence Dials (Youngstown, Ohio/Boardman) and Brandon Fuss-Cheatham (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) all signed NCAA National Letters of Intent to play for Ohio State.
Sylvester, a 6-foot-7-inch, 200-pound wing forward, is considered to be among the top two players in Ohio. He is ranked by Prep Spotlight Magazine as one of the Top 60 players in the country. Sylvester played for the powerful Cincinnati AAU program. As a junior, he averaged 22.0 points and 8.0 rebounds. As a sophomore, Sylvester helped guide Carl Kremer’s Moeller squad to a Division I State Championship.
Dials, the second recruit from Ohio to sign with the Buckeyes, is a 6-foot-9-inch, 240-pound power forward/center. He gives the Buckeyes an athletic big man. As a junior, Dials averaged 18 points, 12 rebounds and 4.0 blocks.
Fuss-Cheatham (6-1, 190) is the No. 1-ranked point guard in the Midwest by Vince Baldwin of Midwesthoops.com and the No. 6 nationally-ranked point guard. He also is considered a Top 30 all-around player in the high school class of 2001. He averaged 21.3 points, 4.5 assists, 4.0 steals and 3.1 rebounds as a junior. He shot 59 percent from the field (279-476) and 77 percent (123-160) from the free-throw line. He has been Blackhawk’s starting point guard since his freshman season. The Cougars are 85-11 during that time. Over the last two seasons, Blackhawk is 62-4 with two conference championships and a state title.
